Fishing

Seining or trapping batfish, shellfish or other aquatic organisms is not permitted in any forest preserve waterway. Dump unwanted bait in trash, not in waterways where non-native species can cause problems for existing fish populations.

Sending fish back is an important part of maintaining good populations and is mandatory at Independence Grove and Nippersink. At other preserves, we highly encourage you to release bass or other predator fish you do not intend to keep. These predator fish help to keep panfish populations in balance.

Cast No Trash

Please deposit all litter, including fishing line, in trash receptacles. Most sites have recycling and fishing line collection tubes. We have seen birds and other wildlife entangled in old fishing line. Please help us avoid this.

Tips for Proper Technique

• Land a fish as soon as possible. Exhausting a fish lowers its chance of survival.
• When possible, do not use a net. Nets remove a fish's protective slime.
• Always wet hands before handling fish. This protects the protective slime.
• Use barbless hooks for easier hook removal.
• Keep fish in the water while removing the hook.
• Handle toothless fish by gripping the lower jaw.
• Handle fish with teeth by gripping behind the gill covers.
• Never grab a fish directly on the gill covers.
• Never grip a fish around the abdomen.
• Never grip a fish by depressing the eyes.
• If a fish swallows the hook, do not attempt to remove it. Cut the line as close to the hook as possible and return the fish to the water. The hook will rust away in a few days.
• Gently place the fish in the water upon release, never throw a fish back.

Basic Fishing Knots

Use fishing knots to properly tie your line to your hook, lure and other tackle. The knots below are those most commonly used by anglers. Each knot has a specific purpose. When creating your knot, consider the following:

• The "tag end" (a.k.a. "working end") is the end of the line used to tie the knot.
• The "standing end" is the line that comes from your reel.
• Leave about 12 inches of the "tag end" of line to tie knots permanently
• You want the strongest knot possible to avoid losing fish.
• Simple overhand knots actually weakens your line.
• Practice tying until you can create each knot easily and correctly.
• Use saliva to wet knots as you pull them tight. This prevents damage to the line, helps pull the knot tight and prevents it from slipping.
• Once tied, trim knots closely. A good, tight knot will not come loose, and close trimming prevents the knot from catching snags or weeds.
• Do not burn the tag end. Heat damages the line and knot.

Improved Clinch Knot—Used to tie fishing line to a hook or lure for lines up to 20-pound test. The secret is making five turns of the tag end around the standing end before putting the tag end back through the formed loop.

Palomar Knot—Used to tie fishing line to a hook or lure for lines up to and over 20-pound test. This takes more line to tie and can tangle because it is doubled first, but it is a favorite of many anglers because it is easy and can be tied in the dark.

Non-Slip Loop Knot—Used with larger lines where a tight knot can affect the hook or lure movement. This knot creates a fixed loop so the hook can move freely.

Blood Knot—Used to join two lines of similar diameter. The secret is making five turns of line with each tag end around the overlapped standing end. Tip: Make one series of turns, tuck the tag end between the two lines and repeat with second line.

Arbor Knot—Used to attach line to your reel. This knot does not need to be strong. Run line around the spool, make overhand knot around standing line, clip and pull.